Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 1158 The Khan's Tent Convenes a Meeting
A deep, somber question caused the heads of the various commanders in the tent to bow low. It was unclear when, but the once cheerful Khan had become gloomy.

In the campfire's glow inside the tent, Huang Jitai, recovering from a serious illness, looked like a withered tree, drained of all moisture. Wrapped in two layers of cotton clothes, he still trembled slightly. Sitting on a thick tiger-skin chair, his once robust and strong body was now just a bony skeleton propped up in his wide robes. His deep-set eyes were cloudy, occasionally flashing with a sharp glint, but quickly covered by a profound weariness.

"What, you don't want to talk anymore? Our army has been stationed here for a day, and the men and horses have suffered considerable losses. Pingliao City is right under our noses... cough... should we attack, or not?"

At this moment, his cloudy gaze slowly swept over every face in the tent, like a dull knife scraping across it, almost as if he were asking the question again.

The flag leaders and tribal chiefs inside the tent looked at each other, all somewhat unsure how to respond.

After a brief silence, a voice rang out first, steady yet clearly expressing disapproval.

"Your Majesty, it is not advisable to fight."

Fucha Zhen stood up. He was now the banner chief of the Plain Blue Banner. He was able to sit in this position because of the convenience of the Pingliao City trade. He and Guarjia used these supplies to win over many chieftains and clan leaders. This time, the banner chiefs of the Plain Blue Banner and the Bordered Blue Banner were divided between the two of them. If war breaks out, where will the supplies come from?

Thinking about all this, how could he possibly hold back?

"Great Khan, putting aside the fact that Pingliao City was greatly repaired by Marquis Luoyun, it was originally a fortress. If it weren't for the inside attack back then, we might not have been able to take it. Now, the troops guarding it are not the imperial army, but Marquis Luoyun's personal troops. Most importantly, our army..."

Although Fucha Zhen was physically imposing and had a weathered face, he spoke these words with great care and in a much softer voice.
"But our army has just suffered a defeat in the north and has not yet recovered its strength. It is mostly composed of reorganized and supplementary troops and those bondservants. Not to mention that the siege equipment is rudimentary, even if it were plentiful, a strong attack would inevitably result in heavy casualties. Do not forget that the defending general Zhang Wenyuan has 40,000 troops. I think we should lead the army to continue north and launch a surprise attack on the Yuezhi people. According to the Han people, we should use their own methods against them."

Although there was some personal motive involved, these words were also Fucha Zhen's true feelings. The disastrous defeat in Beihe was tantamount to being attacked from behind. If it were a head-on battle, the outcome would be uncertain. At this moment, the Yuezhi people might still be celebrating. If they were to turn around and catch them off guard, they might be able to gain something.

Now that someone has spoken, Guarjia will certainly not be left out;

"Khan, what the banner chief Fucha said is absolutely right!"

The banner chief of the Bordered Blue Banner, Guarjia, did not have his aggressive demeanor. Instead, he was more gentle and had a smile on his face. When he got up, he avoided the Khan and bowed to the people around him, bringing over the manners that the Han people had learned.

"Great Khan, our trade with Marquis Luoyun continues. We can still acquire prohibited items such as grain, ironware, and salt. Although the amount of pig iron is small, we can accumulate it over time and still have opportunities to obtain it."

If we were to launch a full-scale attack now, we would be cutting off our own supply lines and would thoroughly enrage Marquis Zhang Jinyu of Luoyun. This man... he is ruthless and vindictive, and his power is at its peak.

Although he was not outside the pass, Qi's elite troops were all in the north. If, in the worst-case scenario, this battle went poorly, how to reach a truce would be another major problem.

As the saying goes, a person's shadow reflects their name. News came from within the pass that a rebellion had broken out within the Han Chinese court, sweeping across the entire south of the capital. The imperial army suffered a series of crushing defeats, but in the end, Marquis Luoyun turned the tide and suppressed the rebellion. In addition, the Great Khan had previously raided Pingyang City but returned empty-handed. His reputation was well-deserved.

"Bullshit! Fucha Zhen, Guarjia! Stop spreading these heresies! I think you've been softened by the Han people's money and flattery!"

A thunderous roar rang out, causing the flames to flicker, and the others in the tent were more jolted awake.

At this moment, Huyan Han, the leader of the Zhenghong Banner, suddenly stood up. His scarred body was unusually strong, and he had a full beard. There was a newly scabbed scar on his left cheek, a shameful mark left on the battlefield in the northern desert. Now his eyes were bloodshot, and he was furious, shouting angrily.
“Fucha Zhen, stop spouting nonsense. What do you mean by ‘not yet recovered’ and ‘rest and recuperation’? You make it sound nice! Guarjia, your treasuries are piled high with gold and silver, so of course you can say such sarcastic things. But what about the others? We’ve lost the fertile land of the Han Sea in the north, and our cattle and sheep have been plundered by the Yuezhi. By the Eternal Heaven, winter is coming.”

Huyan Han walked a few steps to the center of the tent and knelt down in excitement to kowtow:

"Thanks to the Eternal Heaven, Marquis Luoyun is not outside the pass, but is still enjoying the pleasures of the capital. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us Jurchens! Some Han people have proposed the strategy of 'making up for the loss in the north by going west,' which I think is excellent."

"Whatever we lost in the north, we'll make up for it on Luo Yunhou's land! How much grain, how much weaponry, how much gold, silver, and silk is in Pingliao City? As long as we break in, all that grain and Han women will be ours. If we're lucky, we can even plunder Pingyang City and immediately recover our strength."

Huyan Han spat as he spoke, his voice trembling with excitement and anger. If possible, this time he would take Wuya Yu back and let her know who the true eagle of the grasslands was.

The voice just fell,

The atmosphere inside the tent immediately became much more lively; everyone's eyes lit up with excitement at the mention of plunder.
"Yes, Great Khan, Huyan Han is right! This is a golden opportunity!"

Ma Jiali, the banner chief of the Plain White Banner, immediately slammed his fist on the table and stood up. He was a strong and muscular man, and his eyes were now filled with excitement. If they could capture Pingliao City, they could all get a share of the military supplies.
"Great Khan, Pingliao City has been attacked before. This time, when we go to attack the city, we should first let the Han Eight Banners men wear down the city's defenders, and then let the Eight Banners warriors finish the job in one battle. The Han people rely on the city walls to defend the city, and they are afraid of dying! As long as we fight with all our might, it will only take three days, at most three days!"
Within three days, we must raise the Khan's banner atop the city walls of Pingliao. By the time that brat, Marquis Luoyun, returns foolishly from the capital, we'll have eaten and drunk our fill and retreated to southern Liaodong. Fucha Zhen, Guarjia, if you're afraid to die, hand over your troops! I'll lead the charge!"

In the heat of the moment, he even shouted that the two men should hand over their military power. To his surprise, the two men just sneered. If he were given military power, he might as well die tomorrow. How could the Khan agree to that? Before the two men could even rebuke him, Tong Jiaqing, the banner chief of the Bordered White Banner, echoed him with a sinister expression.
“Great Khan, Ma Jiali is right. While Marquis Luoyun is away, we need to plunder thoroughly. Even if Marquis Luoyun returns, we will have already retreated to Liaonan. Even if Marquis Luoyun wants to send troops to chase after us, he can only use cavalry. We are not afraid of that.”

In the Battle of Mobei, the Bordered White Banner suffered the greatest losses. When the Yuezhi people charged head-on, it was the Bordered White Banner that faced them head-on. The battlefield was littered with corpses, and the Bordered White Banner lost most of its fighting strength in one battle. If they can make up for it with Marquis Luoyun this time, they can survive this cold winter.

Even if Marquis Luoyun returns quickly, he won't rashly pursue them to Liaonan, which is the gathering place of the Jurchens.

Therefore, his words immediately boosted the morale of the rest of the people in the tent. Many banner leaders also thought his words were very good. Many tribal leaders responded as soon as they heard that they could plunder things, shouting slogans such as "The north is lost, but the west will compensate" and "Blood wash away Liaodong", which were deafening.

For a time,

Inside the tent, the fervor for war was high, and the crowd seemed to be stirring.

However, Huang Jitai didn't say much. Instead, his gloomy eyes lingered on Huyan Han for a moment, as if he were thinking about something.

Just at this time,
Fucha Zhen and Guarjia were not overwhelmed by this momentum. They had done business with Marquis Luoyun and gained fame and money, but what they saw more of was the fine weapons and armor. With the weapons the Jurchens currently had, even if they won an attack on Pingliao City, it would be a Pyrrhic victory.

“What a joke, Huyan Han, I think you’ve lost your mind, you’re not even as good as a three-year-old.”

Fucha Zhen sneered, meeting the almost fiery gazes of Huyan Han and Ma Jiali without any politeness:
"The opportunity you mentioned is just wishful thinking on your part. Huyan Han, Ma Jiali, open your eyes and look! Look at those soldiers outside the tent! So many of our Eight Banners warriors have already been lost. The remaining Han Eight Banners, no matter how many people there are, are just bondservants. How can you expect them to attack Pingliao City?"

Zhang Wenyuan commands 30,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry. If these 40,000 men hold their ground, can the city be breached in three days? What if they can't? Wu Yayu's tribe now has 50,000 elite cavalry; will she stand idly by? Besides, where are Marquis Luo Yun's reinforcements? And if they arrive, what will happen then?

They couldn't possibly have another battle like the one in Mobei, where the main forces of both sides clashed. If they lost this time, the Jurchens would have no chance of recovery.

It was like a bucket of cold water being poured over their heads; the shouts inside the tent immediately fell silent. Then…

Guarjia also added in a heavy tone:
"Gentlemen, it's not that I, Gualjia, am afraid of death. What I fear most now is this: even if we fight to the death and capture Pingliao City, then what? We've dealt with the Zhang family of Marquis Luoyun before. This man seems magnanimous, but in reality, he's a petty person. If Marquis Luoyun holds a grudge, he only needs to issue a dispatch order, and the army from beyond the Great Wall will arrive day and night. We've just experienced a major battle and are already exhausted. Do we really want another decisive battle?"

After saying this, Gualjia turned around and knelt before the Khan, saying;

"Great Khan, 'losing in the north and replenishing in the west' is, in my opinion, a path to certain death! It will only provoke the madness of Marquis Luoyun. Meat may look delicious, but once swallowed, it is poison that will burn your guts! I believe that we should take this opportunity to write to Marquis Luoyun and purchase a large amount of supplies to replenish the various tribes. Next year, or even now, we should lead our army north and launch a surprise attack on the Yuezhi people."

These words were clear and well-reasoned. If the timing was right, there might be other gains. The other banner leaders were clearly hesitant. Those Yuezhi people were not easy to fool. The ferocity of the Yuezhi people in the Battle of Mobei was still fresh in their minds. They fought to the point of exhaustion, preferring to die rather than retreat. It could even be said that they were more courageous than the warriors of the Eight Banners.

"Coward! Guarjia! You are a complete coward!"

Huyan Han pointed at Guarjia's nose and cursed him, his face contorted with rage.
"You want to admit defeat before the fight is even over? Why didn't you admit defeat when you were making money in the trade? Now all the tribes have suffered heavy losses and are unable to survive the winter. And that little brat, Marquis Luoyun, is incredibly cunning. Ever since he monopolized trade, he has raised prices in Pingliao City many times over. He's sucking our blood!"

“Yes, Fucha Zhen, don’t you think about it? It’s already autumn, and the winter outside the Great Wall comes early. If we fight now, we’ll die; if we don’t fight, we’ll just wait to die! We might as well fight to the death, seize the grain and weapons, and have a chance to catch our breath. Next year, we can deal with the Yuezhi again and there will still be a glimmer of hope! Are you all so afraid of the wolves in front and the tigers behind, hiding here eating grass roots? We’ll starve to death on our own without the Han people lifting a finger!”

Ma Jiali, the banner chief of the Plain White Banner, also realized what was happening and his arrogance subsided. Thus, the Plain White Banner and the Bordered Blue Banner clashed, and the tent was thrown into complete chaos.

The two sides were irreconcilable, their voices loud and vehement. They accused the Zhenglan Banner of being cowards, bought off by the interests of the Han people, and disregarding the lives of their own people. The Zhenglan Banner people, however, did not back down and refuted each other. The two sides engaged in a fierce verbal battle, neither giving an inch.

As a result, even Huang Jitai was somewhat unsure, glancing at the leader of the Plain Yellow Banner with a hint of hesitation in his eyes. Only the minor banner leaders, whose strength had been greatly diminished, were in favor of war.

And that woman, the Uya tribe has developed so quickly, its territory and population are comparable to several banner chiefs, with 50,000 elite cavalry. The Eternal Heaven is unjust!

Looking inside the tent, both sides were questioning each other, their spittle almost hitting each other's faces. Someone slammed their hand on the table and stood up, causing the stool to tip over with a dull thud. Someone else was so excited that their face turned red and the veins on their neck bulged. Suddenly, Huang Jitai felt a wave of exhaustion from the bottom of his heart.

At the climax of this strange tug-of-war between noise and silence, Huang Jitai suddenly felt a tightness in his chest and burst into a violent cough.

His cough was so heart-wrenching that it made him hunch over, a truly distressing sight. A sickly flush rose on his ashen face, and it took him quite a while to calm down.

Inside the tent,

Everyone fell silent instantly, and most people's eyes were filled with worry and fear.
"Khan, Khan, should we call in a Han Chinese physician?"

Fucha was genuinely terrified. If something happened to the Khan, who could take his place? The princes were still young, and the banner leaders were not united. Perhaps it would be Hao Ge and the others.
The coughing gradually subsided, and Huang Jitai breathed heavily, wiping the blood and phlegm from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, his eyes filled with the disdain of a lone wolf.

“It’s alright, but it still leaves a lingering problem. I’ve listened to everything you’ve said, and each of you has your own reasons. But there’s one thing, Fucha Zhen: we Jurchens don’t have time. After the Yuezhi’s great victory, they will inevitably expand eastward. Pingliao City is located at the crossroads of the northern lands. If Marquis Luoyun and the Yuezhi get involved, we Jurchens will have no way to survive.”

"Cough...cough cough..."

Huang Jitai's voice was weak, but carried an undeniable tone as he spoke of the future. The tent was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, with only the crackling of the burning torches.

"Your responsibility is to go to Wuyayu's side and see if you can win her over. Coincidentally, I also need to reorganize the Eight Banners. If all else fails, give her another title. You can decide for yourself. As for..."

Huang Jitai's voice was low and hoarse, carrying a cold, desperate air.

"Huyan Han... With you in command of the Han Eight Banners, how many days will it take to break through?"

Huyan Han's spirits lifted, and he stepped forward, his expression resolute:

"Great Khan! Three days! Give me three days! Use the Han Eight Banners to surround and attack from all sides, and then use the Eight Banners warriors as the elite to launch a fierce attack on one place. We will surely be able to break through the defenses by surprise! But we need to keep Wuya Yu's 50,000 troops at bay first, as they pose too great a threat on the flanks."

The Han Eight Banners, including their bondservants, now number at least 30,000 men per banner. After besieging Pingliao City, the elite Eight Banners troops would surely break through and capture the city. However, Wuya Yu's soldiers are also of the Jurchen ethnicity and should not be underestimated.

"Three days... Wuyayu"

Huang Jitai murmured repeatedly, his withered fingers unconsciously stroking the edge of the tiger skin, as if making a final confirmation. If the battle was not won in three days, reinforcements from Luo Yunhou's various forces would arrive. If they were to besiege the point and attack the reinforcements, could they reach them? As for the last Wuya Yu, the Eight Banners warriors could take her down with a single charge.

He then turned to Fucha Zhen:
"Fucha Zhen, first use your elite troops from the Plain Blue Banner and Bordered Blue Banner to guard against Wuya Yu's cavalry. You go and persuade them personally. The rest of the troops should launch a strong attack on Pingliao City. If it is not captured in three days, can we besiege the city and attack the reinforcements?"

Fucha Zhen was somewhat shocked. It seemed the decision to fight was being made. Her facial muscles twitched slightly, but she finally nodded with difficulty.
"Reporting to the Great Khan, if it is only three days... we will launch a full-scale attack regardless of casualties... If we fail to enter the city, we will need to besiege it and attack the reinforcements. At that time, the morale of the Han Eight Banners will be low, and we can only fight with the Eight Banners warriors. We can still fight."

He wanted to say that the price would be extremely high, but looking into the Khan's cloudy, lifeless eyes, he swallowed the rest of his words.

"it is good…"

Huang Jitai took a deep breath. "Since we can fight, let's not delay. With Marquis Luo Yun not here, reinforcements might not arrive so quickly." He said with a determined look in his eyes.
"The agreement has been reached. Huyan Han, mobilize the Han Eight Banners to launch a fierce attack on Pingliao City. If the city falls, everything inside will be divided among the various tribes. Furthermore, all soldiers, armor, and servants can be plundered."

He paused, then turned his gaze to the tribal leaders inside the tent;
"This is a golden opportunity, and all departments must not delay. If we do not seize this opportunity, the army of Marquis Luoyun will arrive, and we will have no choice but to retreat."

Huang Jitai slowly stretched out his withered hand, and with the last bit of strength, slammed it hard on the low table beside him, making a dull thud, and said decisively.
"Order! All units, at dawn tomorrow... attack the city!"

"May the Eternal Heaven protect us, victory is assured!"

Huyan Han was overjoyed and was the first to kneel down on one knee, raising his arms and roaring!

"May the Eternal Heaven protect us, victory is assured!"

Ma Jiali, Tong Jiaqing, and all the flag leaders, whether they were pro-war or neutral, responded in unison, their shouts instantly breaking through the tent roof with a desperate frenzy!

Inside the tent, only Fucha Zhen and Guarjia exchanged a glance, both seeing deep helplessness and a trace of sorrow in each other's eyes. "If Marquis Luoyun were so easy to deal with, the Yuezhi people wouldn't have stopped at Pingliao City when they came to pursue us. The land south of Liao is fertile and has abundant water resources. The Yuezhi people have been eyeing it for a long time. They are just afraid of the Great Wu Dynasty," Fucha Zhen whispered.
"What should we do? How about we go find Lady Uya tomorrow morning?"

(End of this chapter)